JPH0770900B2 - In-vehicle antenna device for geostationary satellite tracking - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION a. Object of the Invention (Industrial field of application) The geostationary satellite tracking on-vehicle antenna device according to the present invention uses geostationary satellites existing in the sky that are activated during a disaster such as an earthquake or a typhoon. Then, it is used to control the attitude of this antenna so that the antenna always faces the geostationary satellite even when the wireless vehicle is running, by incorporating it in a wireless vehicle that makes various communications.

(Prior art) Wireless is used as a means to communicate between the site and the countermeasures headquarters in the event of a disaster such as an earthquake or typhoon. Increasingly, clear communication can be performed between remote places.

When performing wireless communication using such a geostationary satellite, it is necessary to correctly orient an antenna (usually a parabolic antenna) to a predetermined geostationary satellite. What if
Currently, many geostationary satellites are being launched into the sky, and even when the direction of the antenna deviates slightly (about 5 degrees), it is suitable for the geostationary satellite next to the geostationary satellite that the antenna should originally be facing. This is because the wireless communication using geostationary satellites cannot be performed.

For this reason, conventionally, the antenna carried to the site was driven by a motor through a gear and directed to a geostationary satellite.

However, when pointing the antenna to a geostationary satellite by driving the antenna through a gear as described above, it takes some time to change the direction of the antenna, so when loading a communication antenna in a car and heading to the scene, It was not possible to perform wireless communication using the antenna while running.

That is, while the vehicle is traveling, not only does the direction of the vehicle constantly change as the course changes, but when traveling on a rough road, the orientation of the antenna changes drastically due to repeated rolling and pitching. In the case of a conventional antenna driving device that is driven by a motor through a gear, it is almost impossible to always point the antenna toward a geostationary satellite in response to such a violent movement.

For this reason, in the past, a geostationary satellite tracking antenna device capable of performing communication even while traveling has not been put into practical use at present, but in view of such a situation, the present inventor has the above-mentioned disadvantages. We proposed an in-vehicle antenna device for geostationary satellite tracking that will be resolved (No. Sho 61-241287).

The in-vehicle antenna device for geostationary satellite tracking according to this invention,
For example, it is constructed as shown in FIGS. 6 to 10 and operates as shown in the flowchart of FIG.

That is, the vertical support shaft 3 inserted inside the support tube 2 provided on the upper portion of the base 1 fixed on the roof of the wireless vehicle,
The radial bearing 4 and the thrust bearing 5 allow free rotation in the twisting direction.

By connecting the intermediate portion of the antenna support frame 7 to the upper end of the vertical support shaft 3 through a universal joint 6 as shown in FIG. 7, the antenna support frame 7 can be moved in any direction. Also, it is swingably supported.

In this way, the antenna 8 is fixed to the upper end of the antenna support frame 7 oscillatably supported by the upper end of the vertical support shaft 3, and the antenna 8 moves along with the swing of the antenna support frame 7. The direction can be changed freely.

By fixing the balance weight 10 to the support arm 9 provided on the lower side of the other side of the antenna support frame 7, the center of gravity of the antenna support frame 7 on which various components such as the antenna 8, the balance weight 10 and a plurality of nozzles described later are fixed. At the center of the universal joint 6 (as shown in FIG.
If there are rotation center axes 11 and 12, both rotation center axes 1
The intersection of 1 and 12. ).

Further, a first nozzle set 16 composed of a pair of upper and lower nozzles 14 and 15 is provided at the tip of the support arm 13 projecting to the side of the intermediate portion of the antenna support frame 7 as shown in FIGS. It is fixed.
A pair of upper and lower nozzles 14 which constitute this first nozzle group 16,
The 15 outlets are opened in the opposite directions to each other, and by selectively injecting compressed air from any of the outlets,
The antenna support frame 7 is attached to the rotary support shaft of the universal joint 6.
It is configured to rotate in the twisting direction around 11.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 10, second and third nozzle sets 17, 18 are fixed to the end of the antenna support frame 7 opposite to the antenna 8. Of these, the second nozzle set 17 is composed of a pair of upper and lower nozzles 19 and 20 having their ejection openings opened in the upside-down direction, and is selected from the ejection openings of any one of the nozzles 19 (or 20). By injecting compressed air, the antenna support frame 7 is moved horizontally (the rotation center axis 1 of the universal joint 6).
It is designed to rotate in the swinging direction around 2).

The second nozzle set 17 is provided on the opposite end of the antenna support frame 7.
The third nozzle set 18 fixed in the same manner as described above is composed of nozzles 21 and 22 that open in the left and right directions, respectively, and selectively supplies compressed air from the ejection port of either nozzle 21 (or 22). The support frame 7 is configured to rotate about the vertical support shaft 3 by being injected into

Further, the antenna support frame 7 includes the antenna support frame 7
In order to detect the direction of the antenna 8 fixed to one end of the sensor, a detecting means 23 having a direction sensor and a vertical sensor is fixed. The direction sensor in this detects the horizontal direction of the antenna 8 (direction of north, south, east, west, and south), and when the direction of the geostationary satellite, which is known in advance, deviates from the direction of the antenna 8,
The direction and size of the deviation can be detected.
As this azimuth sensor, various conventionally known devices for detecting north, south, east and west such as an azimuth gyro or a geomagnetic azimuth sensor can be adopted.

Further, the vertical sensor detects the vertical direction of the antenna 8 so that when the angle of the antenna 8 is deviated from the height position of the geostationary satellite, the direction and size of this deviance can be detected. There is. As the vertical sensor, various conventionally known devices such as an inclinometer or a vertical gyro that detects the horizontal state of the antenna support frame 7 and a level can be used.

In addition, the geostationary satellite is stationary about 36000 km above the equator,
The direction of the geostationary satellite as seen from the wireless vehicle is slightly different (lightness, latitude, altitude) from the wireless vehicle (several tens to hundreds of kilometers in the horizontal direction. Vertical deviation (elevation difference) in the case of a vehicle-mounted antenna)
Can practically not be a problem. ) Even if it moves, it does not change so much that it hinders the satellite communication. Therefore, by controlling the direction of the antenna 8 based on the signal from the detection means 23 including the direction sensor and the vertical sensor, Can perform practical communication.

That is, in the in-vehicle antenna device for tracking a geostationary satellite according to the above-mentioned invention, the signal C output from the detection means 23 including the azimuth sensor and the vertical sensor is changed to the above-mentioned signal as shown in the block diagram of FIG. Solenoid valve provided in the middle of the flow path of compressed air to the nozzles 14, 15, 19 to 22 constituting the first to third nozzle groups 16 to 18 (in the actual case, the solenoid valve is close to the injection port of each nozzle). It is input to the controller 24 that controls the opening and closing of the. And this controller 24 uses the above-mentioned detection means 23.
On the basis of the signal C sent from the above, the solenoid valve leading to an appropriate nozzle among the above six nozzles is opened to inject compressed air from this nozzle, and the antenna support frame 7 is moved in an appropriate direction as a reaction of this ejection. The antenna 8 fixed to one end of the antenna support frame 7 is turned or swung to always orient the antenna 8 toward the geostationary satellite in the sky.

In the in-vehicle antenna device for tracking a geostationary satellite according to the invention, which is configured as described above, the traveling direction of the wireless vehicle changes when the wireless vehicle loaded with the antenna device travels, or Although rolling and pitching occur due to traveling on a rough road, the antenna support frame 7 having the antenna 8 fixed at one end is caused by the change in traveling direction, rolling, and pitching.
The direction of the antenna 8 does not deviate from the geostationary satellite due to the change of the direction or the rolling or pitching of the support frame 7.

That is, the vertical support shaft 3 supporting the antenna support frame 7 at the upper end is rotatable in the twisting direction, and the vertical axis 3 of the antenna support frame 7 mounted on the upper end of the vertical support shaft 3 via the universal joint 6. The center of gravity is the center of the universal joint 6, that is, this universal joint 6
Since it coincides with the intersection of the rotation center axes 11 and 12 that configure
The antenna support frame 7 tends to maintain its posture unless an external force is applied, and the inertial mass of the antenna support frame 7 including the antenna 8 and the balance weight 10 is 50 to 50.
Since it is 100 kg or more, which is sufficiently large, the tendency of the antenna support frame 7 to maintain its posture becomes remarkable, and the direction of the wireless vehicle equipped with the antenna device suddenly changes, or a bad road occurs. Even if rolling or pitching occurs during traveling, the antenna support frame 7 maintains its posture because of its large inertial mass.

Despite the change in the attitude of the wireless car, the antenna support frame 7
The antenna support frame 7 in order to maintain the posture as it is.
And the wireless vehicle are relatively displaced, but this displacement is compensated by the rotation of the vertical support shaft 3 or the displacement of the universal joint 6.

Further, in the example shown in FIG. 6, the antenna support frame 7
A mechanism is attached to prevent the frictional resistance of the slip ring from becoming a rotational resistance of the vertical support shaft 3 so that the vertical support shaft 3 can be rotated with an extremely light force when the vehicle and the wireless vehicle are relatively displaced. There is.

That is, between the portion fixed to the vehicle body of the wireless vehicle and the vertical support shaft 3, the air piping for sending compressed air from the compressed air source to the plurality of nozzles, the detection means 23 and the solenoid of the solenoid valve are energized. A slip ring and a free joint (hereinafter simply referred to as a slip ring) 25 for connecting a power cord for power supply or a cord for sending a signal from the detection means 23 to the controller 24 must be provided. The rotation resistance of the ring 25 must be considerably large in order to prevent the leakage of compressed air, and if the measures are not taken as it is, the rotation resistance of the vertical support shaft 3 will be large, which may cause a change in the posture of the wireless vehicle. Correspondingly, it is inevitable that the attitude of the antenna support frame 7 will change to some extent.

Therefore, in the example shown in FIG. 6, the slip ring
The upper part of 25, the vertical support shaft 3 and the lower end are not directly connected, but the connecting port provided at the upper end of the slip ring 25 and the connecting port provided at the lower end of the vertical support shaft 3 are flexible. Are connected by a conductor and a tube. A gear 28 is rotatably driven by a motor 27 at the upper end of the slip ring 25, and an angular displacement detector is provided between the upper surface of the gear 28 and a detection plate 29 fixed to the lower end of the vertical support shaft 3. 30 are provided respectively. The gear 28 is fixed to this connection port by rotating it so that the connection port at the upper end of the slip ring 25 rotates, and when the gear 28 is rotated by the motor 27, The slip ring 25 is configured so that the connection at the upper end thereof rotates. Angular displacement detector 30
When the amount of displacement between the vertical support shaft 3 and the gear 28 increases and the amount of twist of the conductor wire and the tube 26 increases, the motor 27 is started to correct the twist of the conductor wire and the tube 26. Rotate the gear 28.

By connecting the slip ring 25 and the vertical support shaft 3 in this way, the force required to rotate the vertical support shaft 3 is:
Other than the rotational resistance of the radial bearing 4 and the thrust bearing 5,
The vertical support shaft 3 rotates with an extremely light force, and the displacement of the wireless vehicle is effectively prevented from being transmitted to the antenna support frame 7 because the conductor and the tube 26 need only be very small to twist a little. To do.

In order to allow the antenna support frame 7 to move freely, it has been proposed in the previous invention to use air bearings for the bearing portions of the bearings 4 and 5 and the universal joint 6.

As the relative displacement between the wireless car and the antenna support frame 7 is repeated many times, the radial resistance 4, the thrust bearing 5, the universal bearing 6 supporting the vertical support shaft 3, the rotational resistance of the universal joint 6 and the twisting of the conductor wire and the tube 26 are twisted. Force generated by the antenna 8 and the wind hitting the antenna support frame 7 (the windshield 31 covers the antenna 8 in the illustrated example, but a slight draft wind or convection generated inside the windshield 31). Therefore, it is unavoidable that an air flow occurs near the antenna support frame 7.) When the antenna support frame 7 is displaced and the direction of the antenna 8 supported by the antenna support frame 7 deviates from the geostationary satellite. , Detection means mounted on the antenna support frame 7
There is a discrepancy between the signal sent by the controller 23 to the controller 24 and the signal representing the position of the geostationary satellite stored in the controller 24 in advance.

The controller 24, which receives the signal deviated from the signal stored in advance, obtains the direction and magnitude of the deviation, and according to the direction and the magnitude of the deviation, the first to third nozzles are provided. Set 16
The electromagnetic valve in the middle of the compressed air flow path leading to an appropriate nozzle among the plurality of nozzles constituting the elements 18 to 18 is opened for an appropriate time according to the size of the deviation.

For example, when the angle of the antenna 8 becomes too small and the antenna 8 is directed to the lower side of the geostationary satellite, the controller 24 controls the upper side of the two nozzles 19 and 20 constituting the second nozzle set 17. Open the solenoid valve in the middle of the flow path leading to the nozzle 19
Inject compressed air from. This injection causes the antenna support frame 7 to rotate in the direction of arrow a in FIG. 6 and the angle of the antenna 8 to be increased.

Even if the antenna 8 is displaced in the other direction, 3 sets 6
Compressed air is ejected from 1 to 3 appropriate nozzles among the nozzles, and the antenna support frame 7 is swung or rotated,
Aim the antenna 8 at the geostationary satellite.

As described above, the signal indicating the direction of the antenna 8 from the detecting means 23 makes it possible to direct the antenna 8 to the geostationary satellite, and the geostationary satellite is used to perform wireless communication practically sufficient. Can be done.

By the way, in the case of a direction sensor such as a gyro or a vertical sensor such as a vertical gyro that incorporates the detection means 23 to be loaded in the vehicle-mounted antenna, its accuracy is limited because of downsizing or due to cost constraints, and the wireless If the car moves, it may not be possible to correct the error that accompanies the movement even though it is within the practically usable range as described above, and it may not always be possible to obtain the best communication state. However, in order to solve such a problem,
As shown in FIGS. 12 to 12, the signal b representing the amplification factor of the AGC (auto gain controller) 33, which automatically changes the amplification factor of the received radio wave a received by the antenna 8 and sends it to the receiver 32,
The antenna 8 is controlled by inputting it to the controller 24 that controls the supply of compressed air to each nozzle, and opening and closing the solenoid valve that controls the supply of compressed air to each nozzle so that the amplification factor is always small. I am trying to point to a geostationary satellite.

When the antenna 8 is aimed at the geostationary satellite by the amplification factor of the AGC33, even when the antenna 8 is not correctly directed to the geostationary satellite, only the fact that it is not facing (misalignment) is known, and the direction of misalignment I do not understand. For this reason, when pointing the antenna 8 to a geostationary satellite based on the amplification factor of AGC33,
The direction of the antenna 8 is changed little by little, and the direction of the antenna 8 is changed by trial and error while observing the change in the amplification factor due to this change, as indicated by a in the lower right part of the flowchart in FIG.

However, since this adjustment is constantly performed finely, once the antenna 8 captures the radio wave from the geostationary satellite, the antenna 8 can always be accurately aimed at the geostationary satellite. While the radio car from the geostationary satellite is cut off due to the wireless car entering the tunnel, the building, or the mountain shade, the attitude of the antenna 8 cannot be controlled by the amplification factor of the AGC33. Control is performed so that communication can be resumed immediately after the wireless car moves to a place where radio waves can reach.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, in the case of the in-vehicle antenna device for tracking a geostationary satellite according to the prior invention which is constructed and operates as described above, there still exist the following problems to be solved.

That is, in order to secure the best communication state, it is difficult to control the direction of the antenna 8 not only by the signal from the detection means 23 but also by the strength of the radio wave actually sent from the geostationary satellite. It is inevitable that the direction of the antenna 8 always changes finely.

That is, the intensity of the radio wave transmitted from the geostationary satellite and reaching the antenna 8 is not always constant, but always changes depending on various conditions such as weather or whether or not there is a building around the wireless vehicle equipped with the antenna. To do.

Therefore, even if the gain of the AGC 33 is input to the controller 24, it is not possible to immediately know whether this gain is the smallest under the given conditions (weather, conditions around the wireless vehicle). For this reason, in the case of the prior invention, the direction of the antenna 8 is constantly changed so that the antenna 8 moves a lot in the direction in which the amplification factor due to the AGC 33 decreases.

It is not preferable to constantly change the direction of the antenna 8 in this manner, because not only the transmission and reception states always change, but also the amount of compressed air used for attitude control of the antenna 8 increases.

The geostationary satellite tracking on-vehicle antenna device according to the present invention eliminates the above-mentioned inconveniences while maintaining the advantages of the prior invention.

b. Configuration of the Invention (Means for Solving Problems) In the geostationary satellite tracking vehicle-mounted antenna device of the present invention,
An intermediate portion of an antenna support frame having a tubular bearing tube is attached to the upper end of a vertical support shaft that is freely rotatable in the twisting direction via a universal joint.

An antenna is attached to one end of a rotary shaft that is inserted into the bearing tube of the antenna support frame so that it can freely rotate in the twisting direction.
The direction of the central axis of the rotating shaft and the pointing direction of the antenna are slightly shifted and fixed. Further, by fixing a structure having a weight corresponding to the weight of the antenna to the other side of the antenna support frame, the center of gravity of the antenna support frame is aligned with the center of the universal joint.

Further, the rotating shaft is provided with means for rotating the rotating shaft so that the antenna fixed to the end of the rotating shaft can be continuously rotated.

The antenna support frame including the rotation shaft is provided with a nozzle for rotating the antenna support frame by the ejection of compressed air in three-dimensional arbitrary directions about the vertical support shaft and the universal joint, and the direction of the antenna is changed. It can be changed arbitrarily.

Further, provided with a measuring means for measuring the change in the strength of the radio wave received by the antenna with the rotation of the rotating shaft in relation to the phase across the rotating direction of the rotating shaft, the signal emitted from this measuring means, It is input to the controller for controlling the attitude of the antenna.

Then, this controller opens a solenoid valve for controlling the supply of compressed air to the nozzle at an appropriate timing based on the signal sent from the measuring means, and injects the compressed air from this nozzle in an appropriate direction. , By rotating or swinging the antenna support frame in an appropriate direction so that the strength of the radio waves received by the antenna does not change as the rotation axis rotates, the direction of the antenna remains stationary in the sky. It has the function of pointing to the satellite.

(Operation) The operation of the in-vehicle antenna device for tracking a geostationary satellite of the present invention configured as described above when the antenna is always directed toward the geostationary satellite is as follows.

When communication is performed using the antenna device of the present invention, the rotation shaft of the antenna support frame having the antenna fixed to one end is always twisted and rotated in one direction. When the rotation axis with the antenna fixed at one end is rotated in the twisting direction, if the direction of this rotation axis and the direction of the geostationary satellite match, the antenna receives from the geostationary satellite as the rotation axis rotates. Although the strength of the radio wave does not change, if the direction of the rotation axis and the direction of the geostationary satellite deviate, the strength of the radio wave that the antenna receives from the geostationary satellite changes as the rotation axis rotates. .

Thus, the intensity of the radio wave received by the antenna changes with the rotation of the rotation axis only when the direction of the rotation axis and the direction of the geostationary satellite are deviated, for the following reason.

That is, the relationship between the magnitude of the deviation between the orientation of the geostationary satellite and the pointing direction of the antenna and the strength of the radio wave received by the antenna from the geostationary satellite has a parabolic shape, as shown in FIG.

Therefore, when the direction of the rotation axis and the direction of the geostationary satellite coincide with each other as shown by the vertical solid line A in FIG. 5, the pointing direction is shown by the two-dot chain line B and B in FIG. In addition, the strength of the radio wave received by the antenna shifted by a slight angle α with respect to the direction a of the rotation axis is the strongest radio wave strength that can be received (when the pointing direction of the antenna and the direction of the geostationary satellite match). The strength A is slightly weaker than the strength of radio waves received by this antenna.

On the other hand, when the direction of the rotation axis is largely deviated from the direction of the geostationary satellite shown by the solid line A in the figure as shown by the broken line C in FIG. 5, it is shown by the dashed line d and d in the figure. In addition, the intensity of the electric wave received by the antenna having the directivity direction deviated by the angle α with respect to the direction c of the rotation axis changes between B and C in FIG. 5 with the rotation of the rotation axis. .

Therefore, by observing whether the strength of the radio wave received by the antenna changes with the rotation of the rotation axis, it is possible to know whether the direction of the rotation axis and the direction of the geostationary satellite match. I can.

If the strength of the radio wave received by the antenna does not change with the rotation of the rotation axis, it means that the direction of the rotation axis and the direction of the geostationary satellite are the same, and the pointing direction with respect to the direction of the rotation axis. The antenna, which is slightly displaced, can receive the radio waves from the geostationary satellite in a good state.

That is, the pointing direction of the antenna and the direction of the geostationary satellite cannot be perfectly matched, but as is clear from FIG. 5, if the pointing direction of the antenna is slightly deviated from the direction of the geostationary satellite, Since the strength of the radio wave received by the antenna does not become so weak, it is possible to obtain almost the same transmission and reception conditions as when the antenna pointing direction and the direction of the geostationary satellite match.

Also, when the strength of the radio wave received by the antenna changes with the rotation of the rotation axis, the change itself not only causes the direction of the rotation axis and the direction of the geostationary satellite to shift, but also the direction of the shift. You can also know.

That is, as is clear from FIG. 5, the direction of the geostationary satellite (solid line B direction) with respect to the current direction of the rotation axis (broken line C direction).
Is the direction in which the strength of the radio wave received by the antenna becomes the strongest with the rotation of the rotating shaft (direction receiving the radio wave of strength B).
It is understood that it exists in.

Therefore, compressed air is ejected from the nozzle provided on the antenna support frame in an appropriate direction for an appropriate time, and the direction of the rotation axis deviated from the direction a of the geostationary satellite is corrected as shown by the broken line C in FIG. By doing so, it is possible to improve the transmission and reception conditions of the antenna.

In the following, the rotation axis is always rotated so that the antenna is always directed toward the geostationary satellite. At this time, the attitude control of the antenna is as shown in the flowchart of FIG. become. It should be noted that FIG. 4 shows only the operation when the attitude of the antenna once facing the geostationary satellite is finely adjusted. That is, this FIG. 4 corresponds to the portion a in FIG. 11, and when the direction of the antenna largely deviated from the direction of the geostationary satellite is corrected by the detection means incorporating a gyro, the upper left of FIG. The action of the part corrects the orientation of the antenna.

(Example) Next, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the illustrated example.

1 shows an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a schematic side view showing a mechanical device portion of an antenna device of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a view taken in the direction of an arrow X in FIG.

On the upper surface of the base 1 fixed on the roof of a wireless car, a vertical support shaft is provided inside a support cylinder 2 which is freely rotatable in a twisting direction about a vertical line via a thrust bearing 34. 3 is inserted, and this vertical support shaft 3 has a radial bearing 4
The thrust bearing 5 and the thrust bearing 5 support the support cylinder 2 so as to freely rotate in the twisting direction.

At the upper end of the vertical support shaft 3 is provided a universal joint 6 which can be freely displaced in any direction. With this universal joint 6, an intermediate portion of an antenna support frame 7 having a tubular bearing tube 35 is mounted. is doing.

By providing bearings 37, 37 between the outer peripheral surface of the rotary shaft 36 inserted in the cylindrical bearing tube 35 that constitutes the antenna support frame 7 and the inner peripheral surface of the bearing tube 35, the inside of the bearing tube 35 is provided. On the rotating shaft 36
Is supported so that it can freely rotate in the twisting direction.

The parabolic antenna 8 is fixed to one end of the rotating shaft 36. The pointing direction of the antenna 8 is, as shown by a chain line a in FIG. 1, a rotating shaft 36 that supports and fixes the antenna 8.
Is shifted by a minute angle α (for example, α = 0.3 degrees or less) with respect to the central axis direction (direction of the chain line b in FIG. 1).

Further, a coupling mechanism 38 is provided between the other end of the rotary shaft 36 and the end of the bearing tube 35 which constitutes the antenna support frame 7, and a partial side which rotates as the rotary shaft 36 rotates. In addition, a signal is transmitted from the non-rotating portion side, or the radio wave received by the antenna 8 rotating with the rotation of the rotating shaft 36 can be taken out to the non-rotating portion side.

Further, by providing an angle detector 39 such as a rotary encoder between the inner peripheral surface of the bearing tube 35 and the outer peripheral surface of the rotary shaft 36, position detection in the rotational direction of the rotary shaft 36 can be performed. It is configured like.

The base end of the support arm 40 is fixed to the end of the rotary shaft 36 that protrudes from the end of the bearing tube 35.
A nozzle assembly 41 for injecting compressed air is attached to the tip of 40. The nozzle assembly 41 includes a first nozzle port 42 that ejects compressed air in a tangential direction of a circle centered on the rotating shaft 36, and a second nozzle port 43 that ejects compressed air in a diameter direction of the circle. It consists of

Of the first and second nozzle openings 42, 43, the first nozzle opening 42 for injecting compressed air in the tangential direction is the rotary shaft 36.
When the wireless communication is performed using the antenna device of the present invention, the compressed air is continuously jetted from the first nozzle port 42 and the end of the rotary shaft 36 is rotated. The antenna 8 fixed to the section is always rotated.

On the other hand, the second nozzle port 43 for injecting compressed air along the diametrical direction is such that the antenna support frame 7 including the bearing tube 35 supporting the rotary shaft 36 is centered on the vertical support shaft 3 and the universal joint 6. It is for rotating in any three-dimensional direction. By injecting compressed air from this second nozzle port 43 at an appropriate timing for an appropriate time, the antenna supported by the antenna support frame 7 The direction of 8 can be changed arbitrarily.

On the upper surface of the bearing tube 35 constituting the antenna support frame 7, the same detection means as in the case of the antenna device according to the above-mentioned invention is provided.
An attitude controller 44 including 23 is provided. The attitude controller 44 includes a rotary shaft 36, which is detected by the angle detector 39.
The signal representing the rotational position of the antenna 8 is inputted by the conductor 45, and the radio wave from the geostationary satellite received by the antenna 8 is inputted by the conductor 48 connecting the coupling mechanism 38 and the attitude controller 44.

The attitude controller 44 is provided with a measuring means for measuring the change in the intensity of the radio wave received by the antenna 8 as the rotary shaft 36 rotates, and the signal output from this measuring means is used to control the attitude of the antenna 8. It is sent to the attitude control unit that performs

The attitude control unit of the attitude controller 44, based on the signal sent from the measuring means, the solenoid valve for controlling the supply of the compressed air to the second nozzle port 43 constituting the nozzle assembly 41 at an appropriate timing. It has a function of opening and injecting an appropriate amount of compressed air from this nozzle port 43.

That is, when the central axis direction of the rotating shaft 36 rotatably supported in the bearing tube 35 that constitutes the antenna support frame 7 is deviated from the direction of the geostationary satellite, the attitude control section is provided with the second nozzle port.
The compressed air jet from 43 causes the antenna support frame 7 to rotate or oscillate in an appropriate direction so that the direction of the central axis of the rotating shaft 36 and the direction of the geostationary satellite coincide with each other, and the rotating shaft 36 rotates. Along with this, the antenna 8 functions so as not to change the strength of the radio wave received.

As described above, since the compressed air used for controlling the attitude of the antenna 8 or for rotating the antenna 8 is supplied to the nozzle assembly 41, the slip ring 25 fixed to the base 1 and the flexibility are provided. Compressed air can be freely sent into the air flow passage in the rotary shaft 36 via the tube 26, the air flow passage in the vertical support shaft 3, and the tube 46 connecting the vertical support shaft 3 and the lip ring mechanism 38. The compressed air can be appropriately supplied to the nozzle assembly 41 from the air flow path in the rotary shaft 36.

As described above, the antenna 8, the coupling mechanism 38,
The center of gravity of the antenna support frame 7 equipped with the attitude controller 44 and the like is
By selecting the weight and mounting position of each component, the antenna support frame 7 is aligned with the center of the universal joint 6 for supporting the upper end of the vertical support shaft 3. In this case, an appropriate balance weight can be used to match the center of gravity with the center of the universal joint 6.

In the in-vehicle antenna device for tracking a geostationary satellite of the present invention configured as described above, since the antenna 8 is always directed toward the geostationary satellite during communication, compression is performed from the first nozzle port 42 of the nozzle assembly 41. Air is continuously jetted and the rotary shaft 36 of the antenna support frame 7 having the antenna 8 fixed to one end is always rotated to one side.

When the direction of the rotary shaft 36 and the direction of the geostationary satellite coincide with each other as indicated by the chain line b in FIG. 1, as described above, the antenna 8 is moved from the geostationary satellite along with the rotation of the rotary shaft 36. The strength of the received radio wave does not change, and the pointing direction of the antenna 8 and the direction of the geostationary satellite are deviated by a small angle α. Therefore, the strength of the antenna 8 is as high as possible.
Can receive radio waves (Fig. 5).

On the other hand, when the direction of the rotary shaft 36 and the direction of the geostationary satellite are deviated, the strength of the radio wave received by the antenna 8 from the geostationary satellite in accordance with the rotation of the rotary shaft 36 is B to B in FIG. It changes as shown in C. In this way, when the strength of the radio wave received by the antenna 8 from the geostationary satellite changes with the rotation of the rotary shaft 36, the relationship between the phase across the rotating direction of the rotary shaft 36 and the change in the strength of the radio wave. Is obtained by the attitude controller 44 which inputs the radio wave and the signal from the angle detector 39. For this reason, the magnitude of the difference between the direction of the rotation axis 36 and the direction of the geostationary satellite (the angle formed by the direction of the rotation axis 36 and the direction of the geostationary satellite) and You can know the direction of.

In this way, if the direction in which the direction of the rotary shaft 36 deviates from the direction of the geostationary satellite and the magnitude of the deviation are known, the second nozzle forming the nozzle assembly 41 at the tip of the support arm 40 is formed. Compressed air is injected from the mouth 43 at an appropriate timing and for an appropriate time, and the rotating shaft is generated by the reaction generated with this injection.
If the direction of 36 is corrected and the direction of the rotation axis 36 and the direction of the geostationary satellite are made to coincide with each other, the deviation between the pointing direction of the antenna 8 and the direction of the geostationary satellite is made small, and transmission by this antenna 8 is performed.
The reception status can be improved.

When the center of the rotary shaft 36 is deviated from the direction of the geostationary satellite, in order to correct this deviation, it is necessary to determine the timing of injecting compressed air from the second nozzle port 43 that constitutes the nozzle assembly 41. , Considering the relationship as shown in FIG.

In FIG. 3, an external force indicated by an arrow F ₀ is applied to a rotating body 47 rotating in the direction of an arrow B about the axis A (in the case of the antenna device according to the present invention, compressed air is jetted from the second nozzle port 43). In this case, it occurs as a reaction thereof.) And the axis A is about to move.

That is, when an external force indicated by the arrow F ₀ is applied to the rotating body 47 as described above, an arrow M is added to the center of gravity of the rotating body 47 as a momentum obtained by combining the external force and the rotational movement indicated by the arrow B. Momentum in the direction perpendicular to the external force shown by ₁ is generated. On the other hand, the momentum generated by the gyro effect accompanying the rotation of the rotating body 47 is generated in the center of gravity of the rotating body 47 in the rotation center direction (axis A direction) of the rotating body 47 as indicated by an arrow M _2. Occurs over time. As a combined momentum of momentum in the directions of the arrows M ₁ and M ₂ generated independently of each other, in the center of gravity of the rotating body 47,
Momentum in the direction of arrow M ₃ is generated.

As a result, the rotary body 47, which was rotating about the axis A before the external force indicated by the arrow F ₀ is moved, moves this rotational center by the angle θ, and after receiving the external force, the arrow
The direction of M ₃ becomes as rotated as a rotation center.

Since there is a relationship as shown in FIG. 3 between the direction and magnitude of the external force applied to the rotating body, the direction in which the center of rotation of the rotating body deviates, and the magnitude of the deviation, consider this relationship. By defining the timing and the duration of injection of compressed air from the second nozzle port 43, the direction of the antenna 8 can be arbitrarily changed by only one second nozzle port 43. .

However, the nozzle for changing the direction of the antenna support frame 7 is not constituted by one nozzle port 43 as shown in FIGS. With this configuration, the relationship between the injection direction of the compressed air and the moving direction of the antenna 8 is simplified, the attitude control of the antenna 8 is facilitated, and the response when correcting the attitude of the antenna is also improved.

Also, in the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1, compressed air or electricity is sent to each component mounted on the antenna support frame 7 or the antenna is operated in the same manner as in the above-mentioned invention. It is considered that the vertical support shaft 3 can be rotated with an extremely light force regardless of the presence of the lead wire and the tube 26 for taking in the captured radio wave into the wireless vehicle interior.

That is, the gear wheel formed by rotation of the motor 27 is meshed with the gear portion formed on the outer peripheral surface of the lower end portion of the support cylinder 2 to which the upper end portion of the slip ring 25, which connects the lower end of the lead wire and the tube 26, is fixed. An angular displacement detector 30 for detecting a relative displacement angle between the vertical support shaft 3 and the support cylinder 2 is provided between the detection plate 29 fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the vertical support shaft 3 and the support cylinder 2. ing. By rotating the gear portion, the connection port at the upper end portion of the slip ring 25 is rotated through the support cylinder 2, and when the gear portion is rotated by the motor 27, the upper end portion of the slip ring 25 is rotated. The connection is configured to rotate. The angular displacement detector 30 activates the motor 27 when the displacement amount between the rotary support shaft 3 and the support cylinder 2 increases and the twist amount of the conductor wire and the tube 26 increases, and the conductor wire and the tube 26 are activated. The gear portion at the lower end of the support cylinder 2 is rotated in a direction to correct the twist of the.

In the case of the in-vehicle antenna device for geostationary satellite tracking of the present invention,
Once the antenna is aimed at the geostationary satellite, the operation of directing the antenna to the geostationary satellite will continue as long as the radio waves from the geostationary satellite reach the antenna, but the radio car with the antenna hidden behind the object or enters the tunnel. In consideration of the fact that the radio wave is lost, the detection means 23 composed of a gyro etc.
It is preferable to additionally provide.

Further, the universal joint 6 that connects the upper end of the vertical support shaft 3 and the antenna support frame 7 may be any one that allows the antenna support frame 7 to swing in the direction of the arrow Y in FIG. It is not necessary to allow all three-dimensional swings as shown in FIG. Even in this case, the antenna 8 can be oriented in any direction by rotating the vertical support shaft 3 in the twisting direction.

c. Effect of the invention The in-vehicle antenna device for tracking a geostationary satellite according to the present invention is configured and operates as described above, and therefore reliably transmits and receives radio waves between a radio mounted on a moving radio vehicle and a geostationary satellite. Since it is possible to do so, and it is easy to always point the antenna to the geostationary satellite, it plays a major role in ensuring emergency communication such as disaster countermeasure communication.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view showing a mechanical device portion of an antenna device of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a view taken in the direction of arrow X in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 shows a relationship between a direction in which an external force is applied and a direction in which a rotation axis is displaced. 4 is a schematic perspective view, FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the operation of the antenna device of the present invention, FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the principle of attitude control of the antenna device of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a machine of the antenna device of the previous invention. FIG. 7 is a schematic side view showing an apparatus portion, FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an example of a universal joint connecting a vertical shaft and a support frame, and FIG. 8 is a plan view of a portion A of FIG. 6 showing a first nozzle set. FIG. 9 is a view of the part A of FIG. 6 viewed from the right side, FIG. 10 is a view of the part B of FIG. 6 showing the second to third nozzle sets as viewed from the right side, FIG. Is a flowchart showing the operation of this attitude control device, and FIG. 12 is a block diagram of the attitude control device portion of the antenna. 1: Base, 2: Support tube, 3: Vertical support shaft, 4: Radial bearing, 5:
Thrust bearing, 6: Universal joint, 7: Antenna support frame, 8: Antenna, 9: Support arm, 10: Balance weight, 11, 12: Center axis of rotation, 13: Support arm, 14, 15: Nozzle, 16: No. One nozzle set, 17: second nozzle set, 18: third nozzle set, 19, 20,
21, 22: Nozzle, 23: Detection means, 24: Controller, 25: Slip ring, 26: Conductor and tube, 27: Motor, 28: Gear, 2
9: Detection plate, 30: Angular displacement detector, 31: Wind shield, 32: Receiver, 3
3: AGC, 34: Thrust bearing, 35: Bearing tube, 36: Rotating shaft, 37:
Bearing, 38: Coupling mechanism, 39: Angle detector, 40: Support arm, 41: Nozzle assembly, 42: First nozzle opening, 43: Second nozzle opening, 44: Posture controller, 45: Conductor, 46: tube, 47: rotating body, 48: conducting wire.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An intermediate portion of an antenna support frame having a tubular bearing tube is attached to an upper end of a vertical support shaft that is freely rotatable in a twisting direction via a universal joint, and the bearing tube of the antenna support frame is mounted. The antenna is fixed to one end of a rotary shaft that is inserted so that it can freely rotate in the twisting direction, with the central axis direction of the rotary shaft and the pointing direction of the antenna slightly shifted, and the other side of the antenna support frame. In, by fixing a structure having a weight corresponding to the weight of the antenna, the center of gravity of the antenna support frame is aligned with the center of the universal joint,
Means for rotating the rotating shaft, a nozzle for rotating the antenna supporting frame in a three-dimensional arbitrary direction around the vertical supporting shaft and the universal joint by jetting compressed air, and an antenna according to the rotation of the rotating shaft. The change in the intensity of the radio wave received by the measuring means for measuring the change in the phase in the rotating direction of the rotating shaft is provided, and the signal output from this measuring means is based on the signal sent from the measuring means. A solenoid valve that controls the supply of compressed air to the nozzle is opened at an appropriate timing to inject compressed air from this nozzle, and the antenna support frame is rotated or swung in an appropriate direction to rotate the rotary shaft. In-vehicle antenna device for geostationary satellite tracking, in which the antenna is always directed to a geostationary satellite in the sky by keeping the strength of the radio wave received by the antenna unchanged.